Apple has urged iPhone users to update their devices to the latest iOS version after a new hacking tool, known as DarkSword, was discovered, capable of silently infecting iPhones and stealing sensitive user data.
The DarkSword tool can extract personal data, financial information, passwords, and iCloud content from compromised devices. Cybersecurity firms Lookout and iVerify have also issued warnings regarding this threat, with Google specifying that DarkSword affects iPhones running iOS versions 18.4 to 18.7.
One of the concerning aspects of DarkSword is its ability to infect iPhones without requiring any installation on the device. Merely visiting a compromised website is enough to initiate the infection process. According to Lookout, DarkSword is designed for rapid data collection and exfiltration rather than for ongoing surveillance. The firm noted that once DarkSword finishes collecting and exfiltrating the targeted data, it deletes the files it created on the device’s filesystem and exits, indicating its dwell time on the device is likely in the range of minutes.
In response to this threat, Apple advised users to update their iOS to protect their data. The company stated that security researchers had recently identified web-based attacks targeting out-of-date versions of iOS through malicious web content. To extend protection to older devices that are unable to update to the newest iOS version, Apple released a software update for iOS 15 and iOS 16 on March 11, 2026. Users on even older devices, running iOS 13 or iOS 14, will receive a “Critical Security Update.”
Additionally, Apple recommended that users enable Lockdown Mode to enhance their protection against malicious threats. This measure is part of Apple’s efforts to provide comprehensive security to its users in the face of emerging threats like DarkSword.
